Patricia Mulhall; TRADOC FRSA Fort Leonard WoodJuly 2011
For TRADOC Unit CommandersCommunicating with Unit Families Easily, Quickly, Effectively and Safely
• Families of Soldiers in Training• Student Families• Cadre Families• IA / Geographically-separated Families
our populations targeted
Why have Social Media for Trainee Families?
What is the best way to set it up?
Tips and Tricks for successful use.
amilies of Soldiers in training
Outline
Families of Soldiers in Training
“question can i send my soldier a bible hes at basic training?”
“anyone know how many family members/ friends are allowed to come to graduation per graduate?”
“My husband left for bct at Ft. Leonard Wood today! Sad... but still exciting, none the less.... Anybody have any experience?? How long will I have to wait to get his address? Will he get to call me at all?”
“did anyone that has someone in F Co get a call last night, my brother has called every Sunday night for the past 2 weeks, but he didnt call last night, we are not sure why this happened.....”
“If anyone is going down for graduation on oct 19th and 20th and you don't have hotel i would say to do soon almost all is booked up by base”
“Does anyone know if Fort Leonard Wood will allow you to transport your Son to AIT at Ft.Leonard Wood from another base after basic. I know some bases allow and some dont.”
amilies of Soldiers in training
Prevent official looking; non–official pages from popping up
Creates a Venue of support for Families
Means of providing ACCURATE information from the Unit Rep and prevent rumors/misinformation
Creates a learning environment for the Families of future Soldiers
Why?
Unit FB Rep interaction can be…. very limited (simply monitoring the conversations to ensure accurate info) very active (posting photos, answering questions, educating new spouses)
And everything in between
amilies of Soldiers in training
How?
1. Select a Social Media Administrator2. Create a FAN page (anyone can “like” you)3. Follow Army Guidelines4. Advertise5. Monitor! Remember OPSEC
amilies of Soldiers in training
Tip # 1: Follow these 5 easy steps
Use your FRSA… a FRSA can set it up
for you.
Tips and Tricks..
Trick
amilies of Soldiers in training
1. Select a Social Media Manager
• A Family Readiness Liaison (Soldier’s additional duty)
• A member of your Unit (Soldier or Civilian)• A family member (choose carefully)
Think of it as an e-mail account
just keep it minimized on
your computer. Post info as soon
as you get it. AND..It only takes minutes to scan conversations.
What extra work??!The most common argument starting and maintaining a social media site is lack of manpower. Guess what! It can be done with only one person! Depending on your level of activity, someone that possesses very basic time management skills can do this.
Tip # 2: Make FLW and your FRSA admins on your page. They can be a safety net and assure continuity.
Trick
2. Create a FAN page (so anyone can “like” you)
• DO NOT USE your own personal page to create the FAN page.; START FRESH
amilies of Soldiers in training
Set-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
Set-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
Choose a clear searchable name such as “C Co 31 EN BN, Fort Leonard Wood”
“include Commander approved name and logo, not a nickname or Mascot” – Office of the Chief of Public Affairs
Category: OrganizationSet-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
I DO NOT HAVE a FB account.
Where do you want your notifications to go? This can be changed later.
Write it down just in case & K.I.S.S.
Any date will work but use a year that make “you” older than 18.
Set-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
Set-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
Set-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
Remember to use Command approved logo
Set-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
Set-up
amilies of Soldiers in training
• Manage permissions** Waiting for DA PAO
• No personal ads or endorsements
• Register your page at www.army.mil/socialmedia
amilies of Soldiers in training
1 BN Level Cadre FB Page (Group)
Trainee Family FB Page (Fan)
Maintained at Company Level.
4. Advertise
5. Monitor! Remember OPSEC
Further information, instruction, techniques, etc. on how to manage social media can be found at
www.slideshare.net/usarmysocialmedia
amilies of Soldiers in training
Cadre Families
“I end up with a lot of paper bags from commissary shopping trips... I am not aware of a place to recycle them. Anyone need them, know where to recycle them, or have a useful tip for getting rid of them???? I do not want to just throw them away ;)”
“does anybody know which is cheaper for the contacts eye exam .... walmart or the place in the px?”
“When is the spouse career fair?”
“Does anyone have the number to the library here on base?”
Do you girls know a place to get hair cuts for a decent price?
Why have a social media page?
At what level should we have it?
What is the best way to set it up?
Tips and Tricks for successful use.
amilies of Cadre
Outline
amilies of Cadre
Stay connected without being pushy
Creates a Venue of support for Families
Means of providing current and accurate information
Link between Family and the Unit – frequent posts say “we care”
Why?
Unit FB Rep interaction should be active (but not overwhelming) “We care” Post / Unit activity Photos
Recommend at Battalion Level
Companies are typically too small (Permanent
Party)
Could be a venue for FRG Meetings
amilies of Cadre
How? At what level?
1. Select a Social Media Administrator 2. Create a Group page (filters membership)3. Follow Army Guidelines4. Advertise during in-processing5. Monitor! Remember OPSEC
amilies of Cadre
Tip # 1: Follow these 5 easy steps
Tips and Tricks..
Trick
amilies of Cadre
1. Select a Social Media Manager
• A Family Readiness Liaison (Soldier’s additional duty)
• A member of your Unit (Soldier or Civilian)• A family member (choose carefully)
Think of it as an e-mail account
just keep it minimized on
your computer. Post info as soon
as you get it. AND..It only takes minutes to scan conversations.
What extra work??!The most common argument starting and maintaining a social media site is lack of manpower. Guess what! It can be done with only one person! Depending on your level of activity, someone that possesses very basic time management skills can do this.
Tip # 2: Make FLW and your FRSA admins on your page. They can be a safety net and assure continuity.
Trick
2. Create a GROUP page
amilies of Cadre
Set-up
Group pages can only be created from a “personal” profile page.
amilies of Cadre
Hover over “groups
• Go to your “personal” newsfeed page
• Click “more” next to GROUPS
• Click “Create Group”
amilies of Cadre
Set-up Choose a clear searchable name such as “787 MP BN Cadre Families”
“include Commander approved name and logo, not a nickname or Mascot” – Office of the Chief of Public Affairs
Select “Closed”
amilies of Cadre
Set-up
Note: You’ll need at least one friend through your “personal” page to create the group.
Start sharing
Group Page
amilies of Cadre
Set-up
Members
amilies of Soldiers in training
• Manage permissions** Waiting for DA PAO
• No personal ads or endorsements
• Register your page at www.army.mil/socialmedia
5. Monitor! Remember OPSEC
Further information, instruction, techniques, etc. on how to manage social media can be found at
www.slideshare.net/usarmysocialmedia
amilies of Cadre
amilies of Cadre
1 BN Level Cadre FB Page (Group)
Trainee Family FB Page (Fan)
Maintained at Company Level or BN.
4. Advertise• Welcome Letter• In-processing• …etc• Website
Families of “Students”
“Does anyone know if someone will take pics or video of L4 Graduation Friday morning?”
“Is there a Commander’s spouse 101 class somewhere?”
“What kind of stuff can I do while my husbands is in school? I’m getting major cabin fever!”
amilies of Students (CCC/BOLC)
Follow same set-up guidance as “Families of Soldiers in training” due to their transient nature.
However…
• Unit FB rep should be active• Same information as Cadre Families • Educational opportunity for spouses
Families of IAs or Geo-separated
“Where can I find a reputable house
sitter?”
“My husbands in Korea so I don’t have an FRG anymore, can I still go
to this {event}?”
“I heard there were discounts if you
husbands deployed. What are they?”
amilies of IAs or Geo-Separated
Should belong to the BN Cadre Group page.
This puzzle piece can represent more than just a deployment from your Unit
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